Electric conduit connector



Jan. 4, 1949. s. LANGLEY ETAL ELECTRIC CONDUIT CONNECTOR Filed July 29, 1947 Patented Jan. 4, 1949 ELECTRIC CONDUIT CONNECTOR Stanley Langley, West Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Alfred Warring, Detroit, Mich., assgnors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-third to said i/Varring,

one-third to Norman A.

Grams, and one-third to William Noponen, all

of Detroit, Mich.

Application `luly 29, 1947, Serial No. 764,406 In Canada July 2, 1947 4 Claims.

Our invention relates to a useful improvement in electrical conduit connectors for connecting electrical conduits or metallic tubing to outlet boxes or other similar iittings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector of this class which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, light, compact. easily and quickly installed, highly efficient in use, and rigid when mounted in position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a connector of this class having a gripping member so arranged so that when a conduit is inserted into the connector the gripping member will automatically engage the periphery oi the conduit and prevent its withdrawal, while at the same time the connector will be provided with an abutment for limiting the inward thrust of the conduit.

Another object oi the invention is the provision of a connector of this class having an automatic gripping member and provided with a guide sleeve for guiding the conduit into position and aligning it prior to its passage through the gripping member.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a connector so arranged and constructed that the lateral thrust delivered to the conduit after it has been mounted in the connector will be resisted to a maximum degree and thus distortion of the connector through lateral thrust or strains on the connector or conduit will be prevented.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a connector of this class having a rolled thread thereon so arranged and constructed that the inner faces of the inner thread will determine the diameter of the conduit to be received therein and thus serve as an additional alining element alining the conduit with a gripping ring.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modiiications and changes may be made in the detailed structure illustrated without departing from the invention and it is intended that such shall be embraced within the scope oi the claims that form a part hereof.

Forming a part or this specincation are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of an outlet box with a part broken away showing the invention applied.

Fig. 2 is longitudinal central sectional View of the invention showing it applied.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

(Cl. 28E- 6.5)

Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the fastening of the separate parts together,

Fig. 5 is a central sectional View of the nipple in one stage of its formation.

Fig. 6 is a central sectional view of the nipple in another state of its formation.

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional View of the nipple at another stage of its formation.

As shown in the drawings the invention comprises a threaded nipple i5 on which the threads are rolled so that the threads appear externally and internally. It will be noted that the terminal portion at one. end of the nipple is not threaded and this terminal portion is doubled over as at 20 to provide a clamping flange which is adapted to clamp in position a gripping ring I6 and a ange i9 on a guide sleeve i8.

The opposite end of the nipple or sleeve is doubled upon itself as at i4, to provide a reinforced end and an end having a curved surface free from sharp edges or projections. The gripping ring I6 is formed oi suitable resilient metal and is inwardly slotted at spaced part pointsas at I1. The sleeve I8 is of the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the conduit or the pipe IG which it is desired to connect and the inner faces of the threads of the rolled threaded portion lie in contact with the periphery of the conduit or pipe Il). The opening through the ring I6 is slightly less than the outside diameter of the pipe I0 so that normally, beiorethe pipe I0 is inserted in position, the ring I6 will extend at right angles to the axis of the nipple I5 and its inner edge will project inwardly slightly from the inner surface of the guide pipe or sleeve I8 as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the conduit IB attached to an outlet box 5. ln mounting the structure in position the nipple will be threaded through the outlet opening in the wall 2i, this inward threading being extended as iar as possible or until the wall 2l encounters the outwardly bulged portion at the end of the nipple. A lock-nut 22 is then threaded onto the threaded portion within the outlet box. The conduit I0 is then forced inwardly of the guide sleeve 8 'which snugly receives this conduit I0 and permits its easy passage therethrough. This guide sleeve I8 serves to alinethe conduit Il] before its inner end meets the gripping ring I6. When brought into contact with the gripping ring It an inward thrust on the conduit will cause the gripping ring to iiex slightly as shown in Fig. 2. The inward movement of the conduit or pipe IU 3 will continue until the shoulder at the doubledover portion M is contacted by the end of `the conduit. When .in this position pipe l!! cannot be withdrawn. as, the. grippingI ring.A will, securely grip the-periphery oi the conduit or pipe iii. and prevent its Withdrawal. By doubling over the portion i4 a smooth surface is provided so that. there can be no marring or defacing or tearingr of the insulation on cables or electric wires which.

may be passed through the conduiti into the i.

outlet box 9. It will be noted`thatthe-oonduit FG' extends considerably inwardly-l from the inner. face of the wall 2|. Conduit liis, also engaged at its periphery from the end of. the sleeve. Mito,V

substantially the shoulder at the doubled-over fold I4. This affords a very rigid mounting as lateral thrusts or side strains on the conduitl I are thus resisted by a large body ofthel con-- nector and by having the conduit extended inwardly from the inner; face of ythe wall 2l the lateral thrust or strain is. resisted. to a maximum degree by the Wall. 211 itself' so that the wall 2l co-operating with the connector. effects the rigid construction Whichis desiredin mountings of. this type.

In Figs. 5.4` 6 and 7j]; have shown one form of manufacture of the nipple. In this form I have provided. a. body which is formed cup. shaped having the side walls.. H and the base i2.. yIn Figo, the. base IZ is, shown. with a central. open ing i3 formed therethrough.L and in. Fig.A 7., this central opening.4 is enlarged by doubling over the bottom i2 as at.y M1 to provide the abutment shoulder.. When. atubular memberis used and it is desired to. form it. from alight metal, as is the nipple. .5 and it isI desired' to roll the thread thereon. it, is necessary that, some means.,v be4 provided f-or preventing collapsing of' the, tubular member` during, the thread rollingv operation. This doubled over. portion U5" servesv as the neces.- sary re-inforcernent` for preventing this collapsing or crushing, of the tubular member while the thread4 rolling operation is taking place.

It is. believed. obvious. that. the. structure. may be economically manufactured and that it may be easily and, quickly assembled,V being possessed of the few parts that.l it is possessed, oi and parts which, are. easily assembled, Inassembling, the ring. i6. is. placed, in position and the ange [.9 also placed. imposition to` engage in the space provided at one end. of. thenippie. This endof the nippleV isv then upset to clamp these parts securely in position as clearly shown inlilig. 2.

Experience has showmthat. they structure is one which is most efciently used for various reasons set out. herein.

What we claim as new is 1. A conduit connector of. the class described comprising; an externally threaded tubular.` nipple.; an inwardly turned` portion at one end. of said nipple to providean. annular body of smaller diameter than theI internala diameter of the nip.- ple; an outwardly bulgedi portion on the opposite end of saidnipple;V a gripping ring positioned in said' outwardly bulged portion; a guide sleeve; an outwardly projecting ange on. one. end of said guide sleeve, sa-id outwardly projecting; flange engaging in said outwardly bulged portion; and a. clam-ping structure on said outwardly bulged portion for clamping saidY flange and said ring iniixed' relation to. said. nipple.

2. A connector of the class described, comprising: a tubular nipple externally threaded; an outwardly bulged portion on one end of said nipple.; a gripping .ring position said outwardly bulged portion, said nipple: havingan internal diameter ofa size of a pipe to be inserted therein, and said ring having an opening therethrough of less diameter than the outside diameter of said pipe; a'. guide tube; a ange on said guide tube engaging in said outwardly bulged-portion and saidT tube projectingoutwardly from said nipple'` concentric; thereto and having an internal diameter equal.' to the outside diameter of pipe tolbe projected thereinto; and a portion on said outwardlyfbulged portion for clamping said flange and said ring in fixed relation to said nipple.

3.. A connection of the class described, comprising: a tubular nipple externally threaded; an outwardly bulged portion on one end of said nipple; a gripping ring positioned in said outwardly bulged portion, said nipple having an` internal.. diameter of.` aV size 0f a pipe to be. inserted therein, andsaid ring, having an opening therethrough of less diameter thanthe outside. diame- Y ter of said pipe.; a. guide tube; a flange. on said guide tube engaging in' said; outwardly bulged portion and said tube projecting outwardly from said nipple. concentric. theretoI and having, an. inf..

ternal diameter equal to. the. outside; diameter of pipe to be projected thereinto; an overturned portion on said outwardly bulged portion for clamping` said flange and said ring innxed rela.- tio-n.v to said nipple; andan abutment means.. on the. opposite end of,l said nipple. for engaging the end face. of a pipe inserted into said nipple..

4. A connector oi the. class described, comprisu ing.: a. tubular nipple externally threaded.;V an outwardly bulged portion on, one end ofV said nipple; a gripping ring positioned in said outwardly bulged portion,4 said. nipple having` an. internal diameter of. a sizeof a. pipetobe inserted therein, and said ring having an, opening therethrough. of less.4 diameter, thanthe outside diameter oi said pipe; a guide tube; a flange. on said guide! tube engaging in said outwardly bulged portion and said, tube projecting outwardly from. said nipple concentric thereto and having an internal diameter equal -to the outside diameter of pipe. to be projected thereinto.; an overturned portion on said outwardly bulged portion. for clamping said flange and said ring in.. xed, relation to said nipple; and an abutment means on the opposite end of said nipple for engaging the, end face` of a pipe 'inserted into said nipple,r the abutment member being doubled' upon` itself; to provide an edge curvilinear' in cross sectionn STANLEY LANGLEY'., ALFRED n WARRING...

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of; record in; the

file or this., patent:

UNITED STATESv PATENTS Shimek Feb. 8, 194.4 

